Heat exchange apparatus



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CROSB F/ELD BY J ATTORNEYS mm Q .W rm N Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS v Crosby Field, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Flakicc Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware 29 @laims.

This invention relates to radially flexible hollow bodies such as cylinders. In the present embodiment the cylinders are described as being particularly adapted to ice-making apparatus such as described in my Patent No. 2,005,734, issued June 25, 1935 although the cylinders may have other uses. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cylinder which may be economically manufactured and which is commercially practical.

The nature and further objects of the inven-. tion will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying drawings of one illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an assembled machine in which a cylinder em bodying the invention is used.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an isometric projection of the flexible cylinder.

ill

stage in its manufacture and showing the manner in which the several metal sheets are united at their edges; and showing also the end aprons of the cylinder for'attaching the cylinder to suitable' cylinder ends or heads.

Fig. 7 is a'similar view of the completed cylinderand showing its manner of attachment to the cylinder end or head.

It is thought that a brief description of a machine in which such a cylinder is used will be helpful in understanding the invention.

The term cylinder is herein used in its broader connotation and is intended to describe any hollow body in the shape of a surface of revolution generated by a straight line.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine consists generally of a tank i in which rotates a freezing cylinder 2. Water is maintained in the tank 1 at a level slightly below the, top of the cylinder 2. Cylinder 2 rotates about a central hollow shaft 3 supported in the end walls of the tank i and held against rotation. Rigidly secured to the central shaft 3 within the cylinder '2 is a drum 4 to receive cold brine from a brine cooler. The brine enters drum 4 through a pipe 5 which enters the machine through hollow shaft 3. The brine is projected from drum 4 through nozzles ii against the inner walls of the cylinder 2.

The level of the water in the tank i is maintained slightly below the top of the cylinder 2, and the cylinder 2 is deflected upwardly at the top of the cylinder by a roller l which causes the ice formed thereon to peel therefrom at the top of the cylinder and pass onto a suitable chute for delivery to a storage bin. The details of construction and operation of the machine as a whole are fully described in my United States Patent No. 2,005,734 referred to, reference to which is hereby made, it being sufficient here to say that the flexible cylindermust itself be free from leaks and must be incorporated in the machine in such manner as to prevent the cold brine from leaking out of the cylinder into the water in the tank, and to prevent the water in the tank from entering the cylinder.

Referring to Fig. 3, the cylinder consists of a plurality of sheets 3 of thin flexible non-corrodible metal, each strip having its ends united and sealed to form one panel of the cylinder, and the several panels being united and sealed at their edges to form the complete cylinder. At each end of the cylinder, flexible aprons 9 are secured and sealed as hereinafter explained for securing the cylinder to end mountings such as bell iii and a center ring ll of the machine (see Fig. 1). For a machine having a cylinder 30" in diameter and a deflecting roller of 6" to 8" in diameter, the sheets 8 may be .01" thick. Such thickness may vary under different conditions.

Referring toFigs. 4 and 5, the ends of each sheet [3 are united and sealed in the following manner. The ends of the sheet 8 are bent inwardly to form hooks 12. A longitudinal clamp strip it formed as shown in Fig. 5 is slid into the hooks if to hold them in fixed position. The clamp strip 63 is locked to hooks i2 by a lock strip it formed as shown in Fig. 5, and which is forced into position endwise while immersed in vulcalock cement. The strips I3 and it securely unite the ends of the strip 8 and the cement seals the union. When the cement is dry the endless band of metal is placed in a sanding drum where the areas adjacent the union are sand- .papered and cleaned with a solvent such as benzol. Vulcalock cement is then applied to the under side of clamp strip I3 and to the under side of the strip 8 adjacent the union, and a strip of pure gum rubber it (about thick) is then applied, as shown in Fig. 5, to completely seal the union.

A sufficient number of endless metal sheets or panels thus formed (seven in the illustrative embodiment) are then placed in a cylindrical vulcanizing form for the purpose of uniting and sealing their edges to form the complete cylinder.

In the vulcanizing form a strip of raw rubber 30 (see Fig. '7) is placed adjacent the end panels.

A number of turns of a steel wire l8 areplaced against the layer of raw rubber 30; the turns of the wire being joined with a clip of Monel metal to which all turns are soldered. A strip of raw rubber l'l about thick is then applied to the under side of each end panel to extend beneath the wire l8 and strip 30 and beyond the outer edge of the panel a sufficient distance to provide a flexible apron for securing the cylinder to the head or end bell l0. Beneath the layer of rubber I1 is applied a layer of fabric i8 which has been frictioned with raw rubber on both sides.

In the vulcanizing form the adjacent panels 8 are spaced about one-quarter of an inch apart, and beneath the edges of each two adjacent panels a strip of raw rubber I9 is laid having an added thickness l9 beneath the spaced edges of the panels 8 to be forced into said space during the vulcanizing operation. Beneath the strip l9, I9 is laid a layer of fabric 20 frlctloned with raw rubber on both sides and terminating at each end short of the end of strip l9. Inside each panel and extending between the strips of rubber I9 is placed the usual material to make an internal form or mold for the rubber to prevent its running during the vulcanizing process.

When each end of the cylinder and each of the inter-sections between panels of the cylinder have been thus treated, an air bag is placed inside of the cylinder and inflated, the ends of the vulcanizing form being securely fastened in place. The cylinder in the'vulcanizing form is then cured in steam for a sufficient length of time to vulcanize and unite the rubber connec tions, and during this cure the air in the air bag is kept at a higher pressure than the steam outside so as to press the rubber against the metal of the panels and force the added thickness lil of the strip l8 into the space between panels 8. When this step of the cure has been completed, the vulcanizing form is cooled by water sprays while maintaining the internal pressure of the air bag.

After this vulcanizing step has been completed the air bag is removed, the inside of the cylinder is cleaned, and the fabrics I8 and 20 are cemented with an air-curing rubber cement. Previously cured bands of rubber 2| having grooves 22 formed therein are roughened and cemented to the under side of the end fabrics i8; one groove 22 being located beneath the edge of end panel 8, and the other groove 22 being located beneath and adjacent the outside strand of wire i6. Similarly previously curedbands of rubber 23 having grooves 24 formed therein are roughened and cemented to the fabrics 20; the groove 24 being located beneath the edges of the adjacent janels 8. The ends of the rubber bands 2| and 23 are suitably beveled to flt together and form a continuous even track within the cylinder to slide upon the drum 4 and against which the deflecting roller I may act. The grooves 22 and 24 are provided to protect the edges of the panels 8 against the pressure of the drum 4 and deflecting roller 1 during the rotation of the cylinder.

When the rubber bands 2| and 23 have been the diameter of the finished cylinder.

placed in position, the air bag is replaced within the vulcanizing form and the air pressure maintained therein until the cement has dried. The cylinder is then removed and cleaned. It is then placed in a test fixture and internal pressure is applied to test for leaks. If no leaks are found the cylinder is attached to the end bell I0 and center ring ll of the machine by means of wires 25 which hold the end aprons in grooves 26 formed in the end bells and center ring of the machine.

In the manufacture of the cylinder, as hereinbefore partially described, the sheets of Monel metal are cut to proper length and then rolled up on a roller of small diameter,-flrst from one end, and then from the other, so as to preform thesheet of metal to a diameter a little less than half This preforming of the metal sheets 8 greatly reduces the stresses on the sheet when deflected by the defleeting roller 1 and thus greatly increases the fatigue life of the metal. After the preforming operation, the ends of each panel are sandpapered and bent into the form of hooks I2, as shown in Fig. 5. The clamp I3 is then readily inserted into the hooks l2, after which the looking strip I4 is likewise slid into locking position. The several panels are then united and vulcanized as hereinbefore described.

It should be noted that in place of the wire strands IS, a thin flat band of metal may be used to reenforce the end aprons against bulging. Such a band may be of steel or some other material which is stronger than the metal of the cylinder panels.

The completed cylinder when united to the head or end bells is free from leaks, and the sealed unions between the panels will permit a ready flexing of the cylinder without loosening or breaking the sealed union. The wire l6 restrains upward bulging of the end apron adjacent the edge of end panel 8 and thus prevents objectionable deformation of the panel edge when the cylinder is deflected. The rubber strip l5 beneath the clamp strip l3 serves as an insulation to prevent the formation of ice at this union point, which might tend to disintegrate or loosen the sealing cement and rubber from the metal. Similarly the rubber strips 23 act as an insulator for the union between the several panels and prevent the formation of ice on the .cylinder over the area protected by said strips. Similarly the end rubber strips 2| act as insulators. With this arrangement the ice forms on the cylinder in strips of a width substantially equal to the distance between rubber strips 23 and is peeled from the cylinder at the point of deflection by the roller 1.

While one specific embodiment of the invention has been described with particularity it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, but may have numerous other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks. a clamping member engaging the hooks to-hold the sheet in cylindrical form, and flexible means uniting the several sheets at their side edges.

2. A flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks, a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form. a lock for the clamping member, and flexible means uniting the several sheets at their side edges.

3. A flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks, a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form, and flexible means uniting and sealing the several sheets at their side edges.

:lxA flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being ,bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks,

.a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold .the sheet in cylindrical form, and flexible means 6. A flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical formvand having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks. a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form, and rubber strips uniting the several sheets at their edges and sealing the space between said edges.

7. A flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks, a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form, and rubber strips uniting the several sheets at their edges, said rubber strips having grooves formed therein to provide a space between said strips and the side edges of the sheets.

8. A flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks, a clampingmember engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form, flexible means uniting the several sheets at their side edges, and a flexibleapron 'secured to an end of the cylinder for attachmentjo a head or end wall.

9. A flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks, a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form, flexible means uniting the several sheets at their side edges, an end wall, and flexible. aprons uniting the end sheet to the end wall.

10. A flexible freezing cylindercomprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks, a clamping member engaging the'hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form, flexible means uniting the several sheets at their side edges, an end wall, and flexible aprons uniting and sealing the end sheet to the end wall.

11. A flexible freezing cylinder comprising a plurality of sheets of thin flexible metal, each sheet being bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks,

a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form, flexible means uniting the several sheets at their side edges, an end wall, and flexible aprons uniting'and sealing the end sheet to the end wall, said aprons being provided with circumferential reenforcing wire strands adjacent the sheet edge.

12. A panel for a flexible cylinder comprising a sheet of thin flexible metal bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks, a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form,- and flexible means to seal the connection between the sheet ends.

13. A panel for a flexible cylinder comprising a sheet of thin flexible metal bent into cylindrical form and having its end edges bent inwardly to provide hooks,'a clamping member engaging the hooks to hold the sheet in cylindrical form, and flexible means for sealing and insulating the connection between the sheet ends.

14. A panel for a flexible cylinder comprising a sheet of thin metal bent into cylindrical form, a joint for joining the abutting end portions of said metal sheet, and flexible means for sealing the joint against the flow of heat and fluid.

15. A flexible cylinder comprising endless flexible panels arranged in spaced edge to edge relationship, flexible heat insulating means connecting adjacent edge portions of said panels and providing tracks for supporting said cylinder, each of said connecting means comprising a connecting rubber strip, a portion of whichlies in the space between said panels, a fabric re-- enforcing strip, and a heat insulating re-enforcing rubber strip covering said fabric and connecting strip, said heat insulating re-enforcing strip having a groove concentric with the space between adjacent panels to support freely the extreme edge portions thereof.

16. A flexible cylinder comprising endless flexible panels arranged in spaced edge to edge relationship, means connecting edge portions of adjacent panels each connecting means comprising a connecting rubber strip having a portion thereof forced into the space between said edges, a re-enforcing fabric strip, and a heat insulating rubber strip covering said fabric and connecting strips, said heat insulating rubber strip having a grooved portion concentric with the space between adjacent panels and being fllled with air.

17. A flexible freezing cylinder, comprising endless panels arranged in spaced edge to edge relationship, flexible means connecting adjacent edge portions of the panels and a flexible panel or ring connected with an end panel of the cylinder and re-enforcing metal bands securing the connection of said flexible panel to said metal panel.

18. A flexible cylinder comprising panels of substantially equal circumference, flexible joining means connecting the panels in spaced edge to edge arrangement, and means fllling in the spaces between the edges of said panels.

19. A flexible cylinder comprising panels of substantially equal circumference, flexible heat insulating means connecting said panels and joining them in a spaced edge to edge relationship and fllling in the spaces between said edges, said insulating means protecting said panels from the flow of heat through the edge portions thereof. I

20. A composite flexible cylinder comprising a plurality of joined cylindrical. panels of equal circumference arranged in spaced edge to edge relationship. cylindrical contacting tracks by which the cylinder may be supported, said tracks extending radially from said cylinder and being concentric with the spaces between the edges of said panels and overlapping theedge portions of said panels, each track having a hollowed portion concentric with the corresponding space between adjacent panels and with the extreme edge portionsof said panels.

21. A composite flexible cylinder comprising a plurality of joined cylindrical panels of equal circumference arranged in spaced edge to edge relationship, cylindrical contacting tracks by which the cylinder may be supported, said tracks extending radially from said cylinder and being concentric with the spaces between the edges of said panels and overlapping the edge portions of said panels, and each track having a hollowed portion concentric with the extreme edge portions of corresponding concentric panels.

22. A composite flexible cylinder comprising a plurality of joined cylindrical panels of equal circumference arranged in spaced edge to edge relationship, cylindrical contacting tracks. by which the cylinder may be supported, said tracks extending radially from said cylinder and being concentric with the spaces between the edges of said panels, each track having means for relieving any radial pressure on the extreme edge portions of concentric panels.

23. A composite flexible cylinder comprising a plurality of joined cylindrical panels of equal circumference arranged in spaced edge to edge relationship, cylindrical track means concentric with said panels forming tracks by which said cylinder may be supported, said track means being adapted to exert radial forces against the panels of said cylinder only along lines spaced inwardly from extreme edge portions of said panels.

24. A flexible cylinder, rigid supporting means, flexible means for joining one end of said cylinder to said supporting means, comprising reenforced rubber-like material secured to edge portions of said end and said supporting means, and reenforcing metal means associated with said rubber-like material for reenforcing the flexible means between said supporting means and said end.

25. A flexible, hollow body in the shape of a surface of revolution generated by a straight line comprising a plurality of flexible panels, flexible joining means. connecting the panels in spaced edge to edge arrangement, and means fllling the spaces between the, edges of said panels.

26. A composite flexible hollowbody in the shape of a-surface of revolution generated by a straight line comprising aplurality of joined panels arranged in edge to edge relationship, track means concentric with said panels forming tracks by which said body'may be supported, saidtrack means being adapted to exert radial forces against the panels of said body only along lines spaced inwardly from extreme edge por tions of said panels.

27. A flexible cylinder comprising a plurality of metalpanels arranged side by side and respectively joined to each other by flexible or-- ganic material secured to and extending between edge portions of adiacent panels, and atleast one flexible supporting track extending about the periphery of said cylinder, said track having a groove formed therein to provide a space concentric with the extreme edge portion of the panel with which it is concentric.

28. A composite flexible cylinder comprising a plurality of joined cylindrical panels arranged side byside about a common axis, a plurality of flexible cylindrical tracks mounted on the cylinder, each track being concentric with the edge portion of at least one panel and having a hol lowed portion concentric with the extreme edge portion of such. panel.

29. A flexible cylinder comprising a plurality of endless flexible panels arranged side by side about a common axis, flexible heat-insulating means connecting adjacent edge portions or adjacent panels comprising a connecting rubber strip fastened to said panels, a fabric reenforcing strip overlying said rubber strip, and a second rubber strip overlying said fabric and having a groove concentric with the extreme edge portions of the adjacent panels.

CROSBY FIELD. 

